If You’re Going to Own One Shoe in LA...

Sabahs: Cool, comfy and odor-repellent

By The Editors

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Every man knows that shoes that don’t require socks in actuality still require socks.

Because no powder, spray or homespun remedy (coffee grounds, anyone?) can keep a ripe foot at bay in these climes.

Unless, of course, you own a pair of Sabahs.

Sabahs come from Turkey. They wear well. Conceal odor. Go with anything. And Mickey Ashmore, the man who brought them to America, is setting up shop in L.A. this Thursday for a two-week residency.

These kicks go from casual (beach appropriate) to dressy-ish (pretty much anything short of a tux). They come in a variety of colors — tan, black, navy, grey, silver, etc. — and offer women’s sizes, too.

Try them on for yourself at Ashmore’s Venice Beach pop-up starting this Thursday (party on Friday), when he’ll be hosting a little in-store shindig. It’ll be open Wednesday to Sunday through December 20th on the second floor of 1617 Abbot Kinney, next to Stronghold.

Ashmore discovered sabahs while traveling in Turkey. The shoe was really comfy and odor-resistant — ideal for a modern-day nomad. When he returned to NYC with a few pairs in tow, everyone wanted to know where they could find a pair.

Ashmore went back to the shoemaker he’d bought them from, asked for a design with a rounder tip (the originals had an embellished khussa-style toe) and then started selling them out of a storefront in NYC.

Two years later, he’s affectionately known as the Sabah Dealer.

If you pick some up, be sure to buy them a little tight — the leather will stretch and conform to your feet after a few days’ use.